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Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Karim Massimov says Almaty is not a risky choice to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games as the city makes its final presentation to the International Olympic Committee in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the vote.

Greece's creditors prepared on July 23 for the start of bailout talks in Athens, after lawmakers adopted a second package of reform measures before dawn despite a left wing rebellion that may bring early elections.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras contained a rebellion in his left-wing Syriza party to win parliamentary approval on Thursday for a second package of reforms required to start talks on a financial rescue deal.

Greece's leftist government urges disgruntled lawmakers to back reforms that are required for talks on a rescue deal to start. As Sonia Legg reports, the vote is Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's second major test in parliament in a week.

Thousands of anti-austerity protesters gathered in Athens on Wednesday night as lawmakers prepared to vote on a second batch of reforms that must pass if Greece is to unlock a huge international bailout.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced down a revolt by rebels in his leftists Syriza party to win parliament's backing on July 23 for a second package of reforms required to start talks on a financial rescue deal.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tried to rally his Syriza party on July 21 before a vote in parliament on the second package of measures demanded by international creditors to open talks on a new bailout deal.

Greece should wrap up bailout talks with international lenders by August 20, once parliament approves the second package of measures demanded by creditors on Wednesday, the government's spokeswoman said.

Greece reopened its banks and started the process of paying off billions of euros owed to international creditors on Monday in the first signs of a return to normal after a deal to agree a new package of bailout reforms.

Greek banks are ready to open their branches across the country on July 20 after a three-week shutdown, officials said, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for swift aid talks so Athens could also lift withdrawal limits.

More than half of Germans think the planned deal with Greece is bad and many would have preferred that the crisis-stricken country left the euro zone rather than getting the chance for further aid, according to an opinion poll.